Sports Betting For Montana Residents

Even if you would not necessarily associate Montana with sports wagering, it does actually exist in the state – in a manner of speaking. Montana is one of the few states that had been grandfathered into having the ability to offer a sports betting business under the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992).

Of course, this “grandfathering” didn’t allow Montana to offer actual sportsbook services to its residents, as the state was only allowed to issue “sports lotteries” in the form of “sports tab games” and “sports pools.” These are essentially lotteries and bingo-type amusements and are totally randomized, though they are somewhat popular despite their limitations.

Nevertheless, with a history of at least partial sports wagering, one would think that Montana would take advantage of this infrastructure to offer proper sports betting now that the Supreme Court has overturned PASPA, but they have not actually done anything with it to date.

For now, players have one option - the Internet - but even this can seem somewhat harrowing. Fortunately, players can actually wager over the Internet without the potential risk of violating the law, but only if they use legal offshore sportsbooks like Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, and other top Internet sportsbooks that are located overseas and outside of all US legal jurisdiction.

Legal Sports Betting Sites Accepting Montana Residents

Sports betting for Montana residents is not explicitly illegal under the Montana State Code, but it is not authorized, either. Because of this seeming “grey area,” there are a number of various sports betting sites that will allow you to participate in the games.

We have tested out these sites to make sure our readers would be totally safe at these sites. In addition to operating outside of the purview of Montana law, these sites are licensed, insured, and regulated in their home countries, and over the past two decades or more, over a hundred thousand MT residents have called these top-quality sportsbooks home.

Provided you use one of our trusted sportsbook services, you will never have to worry about breaking any local (or federal) laws, and you will never have to worry about being ripped off by your bookie.

Bovada - The Worlds Number One Sportsbook

If you are searching for a safe and legal sportsbook in the Treasure State, look no further than Bovada. It’s a fully licensed sportsbook that accepts Montana residents. With its bounteous bonuses and promotions, it’s a real discovery! Any state resident at least 18 years of age or older will be welcomed by Bovada with open arms.

When you join Bovada, you will receive a 50% sportsbook welcome bonus as soon as you make your first deposit. So, let’s say you want to bet on the Bobcats. Half of your initial bets will be free! Bovada has some of the most extensive betting lines you’ll find anywhere, not to mention mobile and live betting. Signing up is as easy as creating an account and depositing some money. Bovada’s deposit and payout methods are fast and reliable. It would be silly for any sportsbook fan not to take advantage of Bovada’s great offers.

We know that Treasure State residents are always happy to find the old “oro y plato.” Well, guess what? SportsBetting is the motherlode of online betting sites. As soon as you visit the site, you know you’ve hit the jackpot. SportsBetting’s action-filled interface lets you know that you’re about to join a world of fun. All Montana residents 18 years of age and older are encouraged to sign up.

If you are worried that signing up will be some sort of huge hassle, never fear. Creating an account is as easy as three steps. Step 1: Enter your name and basic information. Step 2: Create a password and a security question. Step 3: Enter your address and state information. Now you are ready to create your account and start betting on your favorite college and professional teams!

You’ll even receive a 50% welcome bonus worth up to $1000 just for joining. All you have to do is make a deposit. However, the bonuses don’t stop there. Just wait till you try the mobile betting $50 free play, the $25 free live in-game betting option, and the 50% Bitcoin bonus! Join now and be part of the action.

It goes without saying that Treasure State residents, living so far above sea level, are used to a high standard of living. That is why Montana residents deserve a sports betting site that is the very peak of perfection: BetOnline. It offers one of the very best sportsbooks in the online betting universe. There’s no limit to how high you can climb when you join BetOnline, and there has never been a better time to sign up than right now.

BetOnline is open to all Montana residents, as long as they’re at least 18 years of age. When you join, you’ll be immediately eligible for the 50% welcome bonus, good for up to $1000. Simply use your promo code when you make your first deposit and you’re all set.

BetOnline also offers the Live Betting $25 Free Play, the Mobile Betting $50 Free Play, and the best MLB Dime Lines in the industry. BetOnline offers a choice selection of deposit and payout methods for your convenience, too, as well as friendly customer service in case you ever have a problem (which is highly unlikely, because BetOnline is top-of-the-line).

5Dimes is the gold standard for residents of the Big Sky state. It’s a fully-licensed and legal sportsbook site that is available to all Montana residents 18 years of age and older. At 5Dimes, there are as many teams to bet on as there are mountains in the Treasure State. Do you want to bet on the Grizzlies or the Bobcats? You can with 5Dimes. Do you want the best in promotions and bonuses? Look no further. Are you looking for a large selection of deposit and payout methods? 5Dimes has you covered. And alternate lines? Well, that’s the name of the game, and nobody does it better.

5Dimes has some of the best customer service of any online sportsbook, too. It has a number specifically for sportsbook users that you can call any time, day or night. 5Dimes also offers the latest in mobile and live in-game betting options. If you are looking for a safe, reliable, no-frills sports betting site with great features and bonuses, you’ve found it. And with 5Dimes’ Reduced Juice program, the house takes less so you can win more!

There are no official mobile Montana sports betting apps, per se, as neither Google nor Apple allows these sites’ products on their American app stores. However, if you have an iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or other tablet device, you can easily access your favorite sportsbook’s mobile portal simply by using your handset’s or tablet’s built-in web browser.

This will redirect you to a customized mobile sports betting experience, where the odds boards are easy to browse, the layout is optimized for the small screen, and wagers and payments are just one tap away.

Best of all, by using mobile sports betting for all your Montana sportsbook needs, you can actually wager on your favorite teams and players, no matter where in the state – or in the entire country – you happen to be. As long as you have a data connection, you have a sportsbook in your pocket!

Live In-Game Betting

All the top online Montana sportsbooks now offer live, in-game betting on all your favorite action, both from US sports leagues and international athletic competitions. However, live betting adds a huge number of potential wagers to your daily menu, as you can continue to bet on changing lines and odds all throughout any given matchup.

Because in-game wagering also works on mobile, you can bet during these matchups no matter where you are, from the sports bar to the park to the plains of Montana and beyond. Just remember to be quick on the trigger, as live odds are only posted for a few seconds at a time, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. So if you see a line you like, jump on it!

Is Sports Betting Legal in Montana?

Montana's laws regarding sports gambling are a mixed bag. While it could be legal to bet in a land-based enterprise, it currently is not offered by any licensed provider. Sports tab games and betting pools – which essentially operate as random-drawing lotteries – are offered in the state, but proper sportsbooks are nowhere to be found (although that should change in the future now that PASPA is no more).

Online sports betting is illegal by law, but only if the bookmaker (i.e. the bookie or the sportsbook service) is physically located in Montana or another US state. Overseas books are exempt due to being outside of US legal purview, so these are effectively your only current options for real sports betting in the state.

Montana Sports Betting & Gambling Laws

The laws regarding legal sports betting in Montana are fairly complex, at least in terms of what the state actually offers to gamblers. There are some aspects of gambling that can take place in Montana, but unfortunately, sports betting is currently not authorized beyond the aforementioned tab and pool games. Players who want to bet on sports will have to use overseas sportsbooks (Bovada et al.) to do so.

With land-based sports betting in Montana not yet formally legalized, even online gambling can seem off-limits to MT residents. However, those who want to play the odds in Montana will find that it is not a crime to bet on sports, provided that they limit their action to offshore betting shops.

The gambling laws in Montana are similarly outdated, with commercial casinos being inoperative in the state. While Montana technically has a number of casinos, all of them are tribal ventures, and most of them are of the less-popular Class II variety. However, there are few Class III tribal casinos in Montana that do offer a wide gamut of traditional slots and table games.

Hopefully, with PASPA eliminated and legal sports betting coming down the pike, the MT legislature will take a closer look at further loosening its casino gaming restrictions for state residents and visitors.

Legal Gambling Age For Montana Residents

If you are 18 years of age, you can start gambling in essentially all forms of Montana gaming. While other states will require you to be 21 before you can enter a casino, in Montana, you can jump right into the action the moment you become a legal consenting adult.

Whether 18 will remain the minimum age once proper sportsbooks open in the state is currently unknown. However, all legal offshore sportsbooks are available to use for those 18 or older, so there will always be plenty of options to wager when it comes to age in Montana.

Land Based Gambling In Montana

Because of the way Montana classifies “casinos,” there are actually over 100 such venues in the state. Most of these are convenience stores and diners and the like, as anywhere that sells sports tabs and operates sports pools in the state receives this “casino” designation. But it’s misleading, as the dramatic majority of these do not actually offer traditional table games or slots.

Even the state’s Class II casinos have heavy restrictions on the type of gaming they can provide, though the state’s few Class III casinos do offer a full suite of gambling amusements (with the exception of proper sportsbooks, which are hopefully coming to the state soon).

FAQ About Online Sports Betting In Montana

1) Has there ever been an arrest over online gambling or sports betting in the state of Montana?

No resident of Montana has ever faced charges for gambling online or betting on sports over the Internet in the state, and there is virtually no chance that you will ever be cited, fined, arrested, prosecuted, or jailed for doing so.

2) Can I have my money confiscated if I decide to gamble on sports?

This is a very remote possibility, though it only becomes an issue if you gamble or bet on sports at legal offshore sportsbooks while being younger than 18 (or if you set up multiple accounts at any single sports wagering website). Otherwise, your payouts are 100% guaranteed and all your transactions are safe and secure.

3) Does betting on sports online violate any federal laws?

No. None of the federal laws related to online gambling have anything to do with players - they all cover only the would-be operator of a gambling site, and these sites all operate outside of US jurisdiction.

4) Is Bovada legal in the state of Montana?

Absolutely. Bovada is legally licensed in Kahnawake, but Montana residents do not need to fear of any trouble when deciding to join up with them. In fact, no one but you will know that you are a member, as Bovada does not report to any authority in Montana (or any other agency, for that matter).

6) How fast can I get my winnings out of my preferred online sportsbook account?

It should take no more than two weeks’ time to get your winnings at most sportsbooks if you elect to receive a courier check, money order, or bank wire (the most common options). If you use a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin (or other altcoins), you will receive your winnings within just a few hours of claiming them with your sportsbook’s cashier service.

7) Is my identity safe when it comes to gambling online?

Provided you use these trusted sportsbooks, yes. We have made it a point to find only the most reputable sports betting sites accepting Montana residents, and each of these top services is dedicated to protecting their customers with state-of-the-art data security and encryption.